Episodes

  • 197.💪 American Gladiators from Past to Present
    Jun 30 2026
    Dan, Manny, & Billy put the American Gladiators franchise to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “It'd be a lot more American if they walked in the ring and just shot each other.” -Billy D’Elia While this episode was being recorded, the orange lunatic who’s technically our “president” was building a UFC octagon on the front lawn of The White House, which was ultimately a disaster (F Joe Rogan). We all should’ve seen the free-fall of America coming in the late 80s when we were all watching American Gladiators on TV. This episode attempts to figure out what this show is, why were people into it, and why was it resurrected, twice! That’s right, there is currently a new version with two seasons hosted by The Miz. Oh, and the first season of the 2026 version WAS FILMED IN FRANCE!? Now, all credit goes to each and every gladiator that was on this show because in 1989 they were treated like trash. Safety wasn’t a thing, people were being knocked out, and gladiators were being forced to compete injured. Watching the “evolution” of American Gladiators is so interesting, because as the series continued the only thing that got updated were the games and the arena. They made it bigger and got rid of the cardboard cutout audience members. That’s right! They did that. At the same time, the gladiators remained overworked, injured, and forced to literally fight people like they were circus animals in an underground fight club. This episode travels along a zig-zag path to get the controversial conclusion of the 2026 episode they watched, how The Miz is just screaming in people’s faces, some of the best knockouts, faceplants, and announcer quotes, all the way to the guys talking about how they need a 100% win for an episode because this is killing their souls. So, grab your American flag bandanas, an oversized tank top, scream at the top of your lungs for no reason, and kick your best friend in the face, because it’s time to talk American Gladiators! *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, sponsor to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 American Gladiators Setup 01:16 Show Format Challenge 02:18 Main Era Gladiators 03:20 Reboots & Hosts 05:34 Saturday TV Memories 07:44 Early Seasons Chaos 08:47 Games Evolve Over Time 10:17 Joust & Judge Bits 11:18 Reality TV Before Reality 13:12 Behind the Scenes Grind 14:48 Brutal Interviews &Trauma 17:33 Downfall & Exploitation 19:11 Injuries & Rule Nonsense 24:09 America Culture Context 25:38 Does It Pass Nostalgia 26:51 Competition Show Landscape 32:07 Steroids & Wild Stories 35:41 Trash TV Reboot Setup 36:50 Peak Games And 1996 40:10 Rewatch Reality Check 40:25 Hogan Ali Reboot 41:47 Schlock Backstories 43:00 Bad Names Bad Vibes 44:12 Water Hazards 50:32 Why It Failed 51:54 Miz Era Rant 54:45 Finale Disqualification 57:35 Filmed in France 01:06:06 Fixing the Format 01:11:22 Nostalgia Verdict 01:15:26 Next Episode Pick 01:17:10 Major League Storytime 01:19:25 Wrap Up & Plugs Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • 196. The Nostalgia Test Quiz Show: Manny vs Billy
    Jun 23 2026
    Manny & Billy go head-to-head in the first Nostalgia Test Quiz Show—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “Please neuter your pets.” -Billy D'Elia On this special episode of The Nostalgia Test Podcast, Dan puts Manny & Billy up against each other in the new Nostalgia Test Quiz Show ™. Dan did a ton of work, research, and probably still got some of this wrong, and yet it was a ton of fun. Manny & Billy answer questions about movies, music, the podcast’s history, sports, and food. Find out how many times the guys said the word f*** on episode 185. Twinkie Anniversary, if either Manny or Billy have had Dino Nuggets within the last year, and how many baseball players have killed a bird? There are so many more ridiculously hilarious moments on the episode that you’ll want to invite the podcast to come host a Quiz Show Night at your next party, reunion, online gathering, and even baby shower, just like Billy said. So, grab your favorite nerds, drinks, and snacks and see if you can out score Manny & Billy. *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 Game Show Kickoff 01:03 Rules and Scoring 02:00 Who Goes First 03:09 Wheel Setup and Categories 04:14 Movie Scores Challenge 06:23 Nostalgic Food All Play 12:25 Music Hits Trivia 13:59 Worst First Pitch 17:23 Podcast F Word Count 19:01 DuckTales Crossover 19:36 90s Movie Output Quiz 22:20 Bird Killed By Pitch 24:27 Podcast Guest Stats 27:14 SNL Bans Trivia 28:14 Most Downloaded Episode 30:28 Discontinued Fast Food 36:18 Fresh Prince Aunt Viv 37:10 AFV Bob Saget Years 39:36 Final Spins Countdown 42:28 Biggest Movie Flop 44:09 Deadly Toys And Prices 47:14 Winner Wrap Up Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.
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    52 mins
  • 195. 🎵"Pure Moods" Compilation Album from 1994
    Jun 16 2026
    Dan didn't do a soundcheck because he's dumb, so his mic sounds like it's episode 1! Dan & Manny welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast all-star Steve Herrera to put the 1994 Pure Moods CD to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “This music is at a very unsuccessful orgy.” -Dan Dissinger Oh. My. God! If anyone can describe the mood of this episode, please email thenostalgiatest@gmail.com, because wow. There’s really not a language to understand how Pure Moods from 1994 even begins to make sense as music, as an album, and how it went basically triple platinum. Maybe it’s the aura of Kenny G, or the mysteriousness of Enya that creates the “pure” in Pure Moods. It could be the intimate energy of “Lily Was Here” which is on the Saxuality album that creates the mood that Pure Moods was trying to infuse in our 1994 existences. Who really knows, and Dan, Manny, & Steve actually never get to the bottom of this 90s existential portal, and would it even matter it they did? One thing for sure is this album wormed its way into our brains when we fell asleep on the couch and woke up at three o’clock in the morning wondering why the hell Tubular Bells was playing and why were we scared out of our minds. Maybe Steve is right that this album was being played on a loop at some random orgy in the middle of Sedona. Or Manny is right and this is the soundtrack to our mom’s housecleaning and is the album for crazy Aunts with crystals. There’s a chance Dan’s right and this is the suburban psychedelic CD that adults played when they had too many Zimas and Bacardi Breezers, and that one leftover hippie neighbor pulls a crumpled-up joint they confiscated from their kid the other day so they can all relive their naked-Woodstock-summer-of-love glory days before waking up the next day to sell insurance. Either way, Pure Moods from 1994 is a nostalgic phenomenon that baffles our hosts and their longtime friend. So, fire up some incense, stare into the middle distance contemplating the 5th dimension, and light a movie’s love scene worth of candles because you’re about to get into the mood, Pure Moods with The Nostalgia Test Podcast. *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 Pure Moods Setup 00:37 Infomercial Vibes 01:23 Movie Soundtrack Talk 02:24 Album Origins Explained 02:56 Who Bought This 04:03 Sales Numbers Shock 04:56 Saxuality Discovery 06:24 Yoga or Orgies 07:32 Return to Innocence Credits 10:14 Moms and Crystal Aunts 11:36 The Infomercial Copy 13:16 Pure Moods Festival Idea 14:16 Kenny G and Pure Moods 14:35 Serial Killer Soundtrack Jokes 15:23 Billys Podcast Sacrifice 16:51 Robert Palmer Dare 18:15 Blink Album Comparison 19:21 Wheel of Bad Movies 20:01 Does It Pass Nostalgia 21:01 Best Tracks Debate 22:14 Three AM Infomercial Vibes 24:10 Wrap Up and Plugs Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected
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    28 mins
  • 194. 📢Nostalgia Test News: The Hacky Sack is Back
    Jun 9 2026
    Dan, Manny, & Billy report on Gen Z’s recent obsession with Hacky Sacks, their journeys to find them in the wild, and they put them to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “I don't ever remember buying a sack, but I always knew I had a sack. And then you would just, like, play sack, and then the sack would go into someone's pocket, and then you would have that sack. It was like, Dan, you compared it to, like, a lighter. Yeah. Like, did you ever buy that lighter?” |-Manny Coelho A few weeks ago, Manny called up Dan to tell him that Hacky Sacks were back. He was seeing kids playing with them in the neighborhood, his nephew asked him if he knew what they were, and then there was a random hacky sack in his sister’s basement. All signs were pointing to the resurgence of this stoner activity (shoutout Bajas) by Gen Z so Manny, Billy, & Dan went looking for them in stores (check out the journey on Instagram) and two out of three of the hosts found them! This episode is like a late-night hack session, there’s no logic, it’s random, there’s a lost sense of time, and in the end, it never was about hacky sack at all. It’s just about hanging out with your friends. The guys talk about Spencer’s Gifts, how Gen Z is messing up hacky sack, the game of Combat, playing catch, Pods, Magic the Gathering, the drinking game Asshole, and so much more. Oh! And just like any good shroom trip, the guys somehow verbally wander full circle back to hacky sacks and finally figure out why hacky sacks are back. Not to spoil anything, but it’s all Ryan Gosling’s fault. So, put on your baggiest jeans or corduroy pants, put on a beanie no matter the temperature, grab at least 3 friends, and get hackin, because this episode is classic Nostalgia Test fun. *** If you love what we’re doing and want to support the podcast so we can keep this show going with better equipment and maybe meet up with each other to do some in-person recording, donate to The Nostalgia Test: buymeacoffee.com/nostalgiatest Lastly, we’re looking to be booked for podcast appearances, hosting gigs and parties, maybe you have a block party coming up, a BBQ that you want to be Nostalgia themed and you’re looking to make it seriously memorable, a reunion, etc., contact us to book the podcast. We’re ready to Get Nostalgic With You: Contact For Booking *** Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! *** Approximate Rundown 00:00 Special Report Begins 00:21 Hacky Sack Comeback 01:30 Nephew Sparks Mystery 03:12 Footbag vs Hacky 04:18 How We Learned 07:11 Where to Buy One 08:22 Mall Store Nostalgia 10:40 Three Day Hunt 13:47 Gen Z Hacky Trends 16:56 Will It Last 18:52 Next Nostalgia Wave 21:10 Pogs Memories Return 22:22 Pogs Comeback Theory 23:15 DIY Merch Ideas 23:58 Snap Bracelet Nostalgia 25:02 Hacky Sack Reality Check 28:23 The Movie that Sparked The Trend 30:13 Frisbee and Simple Fun 31:09 Playing Catch Memories 33:32 Backyard Live Game Night 35:24 Asshole Card Game Rules 38:26 Wrap Up and Callouts Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected
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    42 mins
  • 193.🎬Nostalgia 101 w/ Actor Alisa Reyes: From Child Star, to Producer, Musician, & the Voice of LaCienega Boulevardez on The Proud Family
    Jun 2 2026
    Dan, Manny, & Billy welcome Actor, Producer, and Musician Alisa Reyes to discuss how she went from being on Nickelodeon’s All That, to evolving into a high-powered multi-hyphenate talent, and being the voice of LaCienega Boulevardez on the award-winning show The Proud Family. “It is all about uplifting humanity during Mother Earth's ascension right now, and we just gotta ride this wave gracefully, and we all gotta just stay connected and keep uplifting the vibration of humanity [...] that's why we all do what we do.” -Alisa Reyes This is a special episode of Nostalgia 101, because Alisa Reyes has been part of so many of the pop-culture moments in all our lives, so it was an honor to have her on the podcast to talk about her time on All That, Teen NBC’s One World, what it’s like to keep evolving and transitioning so successfully in such an ever-changing industry, and her recent time on the award-winning show The Proud Family. We also got to hear about some of the fun things she’s been able to do, like being on Celebrity Family Feud with  Soleil Moon Frye, Keke Palmer, Paula Jai Parker, and Kyla Pratt, to face Salt-N-Pepa and Kid 'n Play, producing documentaries like The Orange Years and Butterfly in the Sky, being on Reading Rainbow, and what it was like to be on one of the most unhinged soap operas ever, Passions. The guys also got to ask some fun Nostalgia Test Podcast pop-culture questions, and Alisa reveals that she watched a very random sitcom that floored Dan because he’s never heard anyone, ANYONE, say they watched this show. Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! Alisa Reyes is a born and raised New Yorker who is Irish, Italian and Dominican and now resides in California. She is known for her role on Nickelodeon's "All That" as a series regular season (1-3) & season 11 where she played herself and multiple roles. Alisa is also a series regular on the Emmy & NAACP Award Winning Disney Plus cartoon "The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder" with new episodes airing now. Alisa plays the bossy, but oh so lovable "La Cienega Boulevardez". You can also check out Alisa as "Lacienega" on Disney's "Broken Karaoke" & "Theme Song Take Over". She has also starred in NBC's "One World" as the Cuban-born entrepreneur of the group. Peter Engel created the TNBC show. Alisa received the coveted Hollywood Young Star Award for her role of Marci Blake in "One World". Thinking you may recognize her from some other show? Well check out her credits on "Without A Trace" (CBS), "Strong Medicine" (LIFETIME), "NYPD Blue" (ABC), "ER" (NBC), as well as the controversial Trina on "Boston Public" (FOX) and "Six Feet Under" (HBO) and on the Emmy nominated PBS series "The American Family", portraying the younger Vangie. The list is endless, with lots more to come. Alisa was also on NBCs "Passions", where she joined the cast as the beautiful and exotic singer Sydney Valentine causing nothing but heartache for the lovelorn super couple Chad and Whitney, but also making her mark as a strong recording artist. She also was a recurring on CBS's "The Bold & the Beautiful" as the sassy Ginger. Check out Alisa's latest film "Sisters" written and directed by Jahmar Hill. She plays the role of Elise in this crime/thriller airing currently on BET and BET Plus. You can also see Alisa star in "Break Even" which is out now. The film is written by CJ Walley and directed by Shane Stanley. This will be Alisa's 4th project with Shane Stanley. Alisa plays Rosie in the film. "Break Even" is an action, adventure, love story you will not want to miss. Alisa also starred in films such as "Daze", "The Biz" and "FreezerBurn"to name a few. Along with other films such as "A Trip to the Dark Side" and "My Trip Back to the Dark Side" directed by Shane Stanely. Alisa is also in a film called "Heavenly Deposit" which is supported by The Dove Foundation as the role of Jenny. You can also make it a movie night and watch her movie "Players" she stars in with Freddie Rodriguez. Along with her latest documentary that she is producing alongside Scott Barber and Bill Parks starring as herself called "The Orange Years" about 80s & 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia which is out on Hulu and most platforms. You can also see Alisa in a documentary called "Butterfly in the Sky" which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix Alisa's latest music single " Back & Forth" featuring and produced by Linnie King Twigg and mixed & mastered by DJ EVIL DEE, along with her single "Sexy Hot" are now available on all media platforms through TuneCore, iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify and more. Alisa prior to her solo music career was in a girls group called "3G's" signed with Hollywood Records....
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 192.💥Chuck Norris Double Feature: The Delta Force (1986) & Sidekicks (1992) w/ Steve Herrera
    May 26 2026
    Warning! Dan didn't do a soundcheck because he's dumb, so his mic sounds like it's episode 1 Dan & Manny welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast all-star Steve Herrera to put The Delta Force (1986) & Sidekicks (1992) to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “I feel like we were fed a pack of fucking lies as kids.” -Manny Coelho In honor of Chuck Norris’ life, the boys decided to do a double feature of his movies and, oh boy, not so sure if this was a good idea. The Delta Force & Sidekicks are examples of two very different parts of Chuck Norris’ career, the mass-explosions-fighting-stereotyped-bad-guys one-liners-guns-guns-roundhouse-kick film and the “comedy”-making-fun-of-marginalized-groups-stereotyped-characters-weird-sexual-undertones-one-liners-what-is-the-plot movies. Sure, Dan & Manny could have done a really good movie of Chuck Norris’ like Lone Wolf McQuade, but is that even good? Dan, Manny, & Steve try to figure out what these two movies are actually about, they wrestle with the fact that our collective nostalgia for the 80s and 90s is possibly clouding the social judgement of what’s actually good from our childhoods, and Dan lays down the law about the Nostalgia content creator community. They also take down gym teachers, tell a funny story of actual quicksand at their high school in Mineola, and try to deal with the high amount of racism that these two movies seem to be able to pack in for some reason. Also, what they hell is The Delta Force even about? Is Sidekicks a mass hallucination, Joe Piscopo (that's all that needs to be said), and why is the dad character in Sidekicks one of the most useless characters in cinema history. The guys give major props to the late great Jonathan Brandis for acting his ass off and they name the true sidekick of Sidekicks. So, grab a plate of scrambled eggs a la The Delta Force, prepare for some intense hallucinations, breathe deeply, and set some bricks on fire because this might be the episode that destroys the guys’ will Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, & episode idea for The Wheel of Nostalgia! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! Approximate Rundown 00:00 Chuck Norris Double Feature 01:04 Steve Herrera Returns 04:15 Why This Episode Exists 08:02 Martial Arts Movie Tangents 10:11 Starting With Sidekicks 10:23 Brandis and Cast Breakdown 12:16 Plot Summary and Stats 13:03 Karate Kid Comparison 13:47 Ninjas and 90s Trends 14:17 Dreams Hallucinations and Asthma 17:59 No Plot No Payoff 20:09 Racism and Piscopo Rants 22:40 Random Scenes and Bikers 26:46 Gym Teachers Then vs Now 28:21 Training Montage and Tournament Logic 29:20 Stunt Doubles and Ending Twist 31:49 Nineties Parenting Logic 32:27 Wheelchair Kid Mystery 33:16 Dream Theory Spiral 34:20 Chuck Norris Cameo 34:35 Announcers Roast Session 36:28 Piscopo Cartoon Villain 38:05 Weird Sidekick Love Arc 40:30 Tournament Brick Chaos 42:48 Bizarre Production Trivia 44:32 Nostalgia Test Verdicts 50:32 Switching to Delta Force 50:48 Cannon Films Breakdown 53:20 Delta Force Plot Madness 54:45 Racist Stereotypes Talk 57:34 Sweatiest Plane Hijack 01:03:07 Rocket Bike WTF 01:04:30 Motorcycle Missile Reveal 01:05:50 Sharing the Clip Chaos 01:06:20 Extras Steal the Show 01:07:42 Missing Subtitles Confusion 01:09:57 Cotton Field and Plot Holes 01:14:21 Mannequin Death Effects 01:17:34 Reporters and Training Plane 01:20:23 Ratings and Real Story 01:23:49 Behind the Scenes Trivia 01:25:45 Listener Reactions and Memories 01:27:23 Chuck Norris Jokes 01:31:31 Does It Pass the Test 01:38:19 Wrap Up and Plugs Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected
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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • 191. Bio-Dome (1996) w/ Meghan Nolan
    May 19 2026
    Dan, Manny, & Billy welcome back Nostalgia Test Podcast all-star Meghan Nolan to put the 1996 Pauly Shore Stephen Baldwin “comedy” Bio-Dome to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “Dude, could you think of a worse person to get high with than Pauly Shore? Like, there is literally no one that I would rather less get high with than Pauly Shore. 'Cause I would be like, "Dude, shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up." Could you imagine that, dude?” -Billy D’Elia Dear Nostalgia Testers, this is the episode that almost broke the podcast. The guys decided to put their fate in The Wheel of Pauly Shore and was given the task of putting Bio-Dome to the test, and boy was it a huge... well. This movie defines the major issues with the 90s and why Manny talks about 80s cheese vs 90s trash. This movie seems like it was written by AI but was instead written by three people. That’s right?! It took three people to write these lines that Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin literally fart out for 90 minutes. This movie sets the bar lower than low for men and is an insult to any and all men. The so-called jokes use sexual assault as a punchline, there’s a Nazi salute that happens as all these morons go into the bio-dome, homophobia, and more badly developed body humor and horror than a David Cronenberg film. Dan, Manny, Billy, and Meghan go through some deep self-reflection starting with shame, shame that they all saw this movie, some more than 5 times, denial that they thought it was ever good, anger that this movie was even made, and acceptance that this is why they do this podcast. Dan creates a Bio-Dome “Would You Rather” game, and let’s just say someone would rather wear a diaper for a week than watch Bio-Dome. So, take something really strong to calm yourself down, gather all your Pauly Shore movies and adoration, light a huge dumpster fire, and join The Nostalgia Test Podcast as we attempt to erase this part of the 90s from existence. Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, & episode idea for The Wheel of Nostalgia! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! Approximate Rundown 00:00 Welcome Back Meghan Nolan 01:11 Brain Rot Title Sequence 02:16 First Time Watching Bio-Dome 05:08 Mall Theater Memories 07:16 Forced Into Bio-Dome 09:45 How Was This Made 11:38 Pauly Shore Career Context 13:22 Writers and Director Breakdown 15:22 No One to Root For 19:12 Gross-Out Humor and Bad Acting 26:43 Problematic Jokes and Garbage World 27:43 What Even Is the Bio-Dome 29:51 Breaking Into Bio-Dome 31:07 Kids React to the Chaos 32:24 Problematic Jokes and Nazis 32:44 Carrot Scene Confusion 34:44 Sudden Fame Makes No Sense 36:26 Cameos and Bad One Liners 37:20 Sensors and Alarm Logic 38:36 Real Bio-Dome Documentary 41:06 Yogurt Lines and Sexism 43:20 Baldwin Overacting Rant 46:20 Flashbacks and Dog Shaving 47:03 Whip-Its and SPAM Meltdown 50:50 Goofy Movie Nostalgia Detour 54:25 The Key Escape Plot Hole 56:40 Party Trash the Dome 58:54 Terrible Band Mystery 59:08 Bug Room Chaos 01:00:39 Cameos And Characters 01:01:42 Ending Makes No Sense 01:02:51 Would You Rather Gauntlet 01:12:51 Raw Eggs And Swing Life 01:16:23 Final Verdict Pop Culture Mistake 01:24:55 Wrap Up And Earth Day Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • 190.🤘Metallica's Legacy Era: Death Magnetic, Hardwired...to Self-Destruct, & 72 Seasons
    May 12 2026
    Dan & Billy welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast Allstar Jeremy Madson for the final episode of the Metallica Eras journey, The Legacy Era: Death Magnetic, Hardwired...to Self-Destruct, & 72 Seasons and put them to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST! “That's an interesting comparison, Metallica to The Beatles [...] The Beatles, depending on how you count them, were only around for, like, six or eight years, right? And they were hyper prolific. They put out all their shit, and that was basically Metallica from however you wanna measure it, from, from Kill 'Em All up to Black or even through Justice, right? They cranked out just, like, absolute pinnacle, God-level material. But instead of, you know, tearing each other down and going off and doing their own thing, they just decided to stick around.” -Jeremy Madson Dan, Billy, & Jeremy talk about the most recent albums of Metallica’s long and confusing career, Death Magnetic (2008), Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016), and 72 Seasons (2023). They try to figure out why Metallica made these albums, if they should’ve stopped after Death Magnetic, Metallica’s consistent cover art fails since Load, and why does Metallica insist on recording songs longer than 3.5 minutes at this point. Is Death Magnetics’ mixing really a problem, especially after Saint Anger or is it just some bulls**t to complain about? Their conversation inevitably returns to the influence of Lars on the band’s trajectory after the death of Cliff Burton and how the band might have imploded anyway if Cliff didn’t die. At the end of the episode, and this is an epic one so hang on and hangout, the guys give their individual rankings of all the studio albums from worst to best (minus LuLu, Garage Inc, & the live albums) and Jeremy creates an aggregate scoring of all 11 albums. We hope you enjoy this final episode. Grab your concert T’s, your closets Metal friends, push yourself through the pit, and let’s scream our heads off together. Come chill! Listen to the other Metallica Eras Episodes: 136:🤘Metallica’s Thrash Era w/ Longtime Friends Billy D'Elia & Jeremy Madson 142. 🤘Metallica's MTV Era: The Black Album, Load, & Reload 172. 🤘Metallica's Saint Anger & Some Kind of Monster Documentary Era: How Metallica Almost Died Listen to the episode that started it all: 128. 🤘Metallica's the Black Album w/ Longtime Friends Billy D'Elia & Jeremy Madson Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, & episode idea for The Wheel of Nostalgia! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode! Approximate Rundown 00:00 Pre Show Setup 00:23 Planning The Format 01:50 Ranking Metallica Albums 02:55 Zoom Tech and Sweater Talk 04:21 Legacy Era Intro 05:55 Skipping Lulu 06:51 Release Timeline Shift 09:38 Metallica As Corporation 11:28 Death Magnetic Relief 13:13 Rick Rubin and Album Length 16:45 Bob Rock Debate 19:34 Death Magnetic Track Takes 26:24 Unforgiven Three Debate 31:07 Production Loudness War 33:13 Producer Pop Quiz 33:48 Fidelman and Death Magnetic 34:24 Death Magnetic Nostalgia Test 35:53 Unforgiven III S&M2 Gem 36:30 Hardwired Facts and Setup 37:48 Double Album Debate 38:42 Cover Art Roast Session 40:27 Hardwired Track Highlights 45:13 Filler Songs and Titles 46:48 Every Song Gets a Video 50:52 Kirk Riffs Lost and Aging Band 52:52 Hardwired Nostalgia Verdicts 56:12 72 Seasons Stats and Awards 57:50 72 Seasons Cover and Anxiety 59:23 Song Titles and Vocal Critique 01:01:57 Lux Aeterna and NWOBHM 01:03:27 Riffs Tease Then Stop 01:05:08 Justice Tone Fan Remix 01:06:36 Why Make New Albums 01:09:34 Mustaine Stays in Metallica 01:10:45 Fixing Metallica Song Lengths 01:12:21 Cliff Bob Rock and Decline 01:13:44 Bands That Still Deliver 01:15:34 Radiohead as a Counterexample 01:16:19 Jason Rob and Lars Control 01:18:36 Do We Need New Albums 01:23:26 72 Seasons Live vs Studio 01:27:43 Meh Verdict and Listener Qs 01:31:47 Kirk Hammett Respect Debate 01:38:42 Ranking the Discography Begins 01:41:22 Reload Roasted 01:42:27 Ranking Number Nine 01:43:58 Hardwired Cover Jokes 01:46:59 Sevens and Sixes 01:48:42 Death Magnetic Cutoff 01:55:05 Black Album Line 01:59:09 Kill Em All at Four 02:01:07 Top Three Debate 02:05:41 Justice vs Puppets 02:11:03 Aggregate Scores Revealed 02:14:49 Series Wrap Up Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events! The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC! Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | ...
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    2 hrs and 13 mins